Be aware of the scare

Democrats abandon proper perspective over sequestration

Democrats have bizarrely been claiming that Washington doesn’t have a spending problem. The government just doesn’t have enough of our money, and rich people aren’t paying their “fair share.” That’s the problem, they say.

Well, the world should soon see how wrong they are.

A new analysis, notes cable network CNBC, says “average tax bills for high-income families rarely have been higher since the Congressional Budget Office began tracking the data in 1979. It’s middle- and low-income families who aren’t paying as much as they used to.”

So taxes on the rich are at a 30-year high – and some 47 percent of the population doesn’t pay federal income taxes at all.

Moreover, projections by the Congressional Budget Office predict federal revenues will be at record levels this year – $2.7 trillion – “the most money the government has ever taken in,” one news report summed up.

“According to historical tables compiled by the White House Office of Management and Budget,” the report says, “the government has never collected more than the $2.6 trillion it collected in 2007, meaning that if CBO’s projection is correct, it will set a new record for revenue collection in 2013.”

So, question: Will the president and Democrats in Congress acknowledge those things and surmise that we’re already taking enough money out of the economy – that the real problem is spending all of that and more? If we still have a deficit, even with record revenues especially from the well-off, won’t Democrats then have to acknowledge that it’s a spending problem?

Don’t hold your breath. They have staked the entire Democratic Party’s future on the supposed incessant need for more and more of our money. Even though they’ll get record amounts of it this year.

It will never be enough – particularly when Washington spending is so completely out of control.

How can they tell how much is enough anyway? The Democrat-led Senate has refused to pass a federal budget in four years.

Regardless, it appears the only way Washington can make a case for needing more of your money is to lie, exaggerate and fear monger.

The Obama administration predicted gloom and doom with the coming of last Friday’s “sequestration” budget cuts, but had to admit later that they’d exaggerated – although they seem to be trying to cause as much pain as possible with the cuts they’re choosing.

Consider, too, that most American workers had their payroll taxes go up 2.4 percent in January. That’s about the level of sequestration cuts – and we’re supposed to panic that the government has to cut the same amount (and over a longer period of time)?

In some cases administration officials simply appear to have lied about sequestration’s effects. The Washington Post – a largely liberal newspaper – slapped Education Secretary Arne Duncan with “four Pinocchios” – the paper’s highest dishonor for misinformation – for his claim that sequestration could leave 40,000 teachers without a job and that “pink slips” were already going out in one West Virginia county.

Neither was even close to being true. The Post couldn’t find any evidence of sequester-related layoffs – though there were some 100 unrelated transfer notices in the West Virginia county he mentioned. The biggest issue in the West Virginia school district, the Post learned, was actually teacher absenteeism.

“In fact,” writes the Post, “few in the county seemed to know what Duncan was talking about, including the education reporters who cover the school district for the Charleston, W.Va., newspapers.”

Duncan’s office now claims the 40,000 layoff figure was a “rough back-of-the-envelope calculation.” Great. The highest levels of your federal government are setting policy and making public pronouncements based on sketches on the backs of envelopes. Just wait till the new shipment of cocktail napkins comes in; then you’ll really get some good information!

Of course, Duncan and the other Cabinet members who tried to panic the citizenry are nothing compared to Democrat Rep. Maxine Waters of California, who predicted 170 million Americans would lose jobs due to sequestration. That’s a neat trick, since there are only around 140 million total jobs in the U.S. (she later backtracked).

Just be aware of the scare. With federal revenues at soon-to-be record levels, lying is the only way they can squeeze more money out of you.

ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here and for
following agreed-upon rules of civility. Posts and
comments do not reflect the views of this site. Posts and comments are
automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some
comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules,
click the "Flag as offensive" link below the comment.

Be aware of the scare. These dire predictions are trumped up nonsense.

But PLEASE, ACES, give the Repubs a chance to be a credible alternative to the Dems. Enough with the 47% nonsense. 44% of the 47%ers are moved off the Federal tax rolls due to elderly benefits. 30.4% are working households. Are you seriously trying to perpetuate the idea that the Repubs think these groups aren't paying their fair share, and Dems are standing against that?

And these record tax revenue projections AFTER January's tax hikes are a bit peculiar, wouldn't you say? Wasn't the mantra that if we want to raise revenue, we have to CUT taxes?

Well, at least the Dow is tanking. I'd hate for so many ideology-based doom-and-gloom predictions to fall to empirically-based policy. That would be super embarrassing.

Edit: I originally incorrectly reported the percent of elderly + working poor as only elderly. That has been corrected.

What surprises me is that the editorial staff of the Augusta newspaper evidently expects politicians to always tell the truth. I find it strange that a newspaper editorial staff evidently does not read the newspapers. Any honest politician is eliminated early on in the process, as the Darwinian imperative of modern American politics is completely dishonest, and cannot tolerate honesty. The body politic rejects an honest person as a foreign body in the political organism. This is a fact, and we cannot pretend otherwise. No, I do not know how to fix it.

Could you please provide where you got the information that 75% of the 47%, are "Fixed Income Seniors"? I've read about this myself and I've never seen the numbers near that high, but would certainly be willing to read your source. Or is this just another statement we are suppose to take you at your word for, because it makes republicans look bad? That seems to be the left's strategy; to repeat something (even lies) often enough where people will believe it. Just keeping pounding people into submission.

The issue is, as the editorial so accurately spells out, is that Obama wants even more tax hikes. After lying about the sequester being the Republican’s idea Obama has sent his minions out to tell more lies. Teachers laid off in Virginia by the head of the Department of Education. Napolitano telling lies about delays at air ports. The lies just continue. The Republicans have made three efforts to deal with sequester, two bills the Senate refused to look at and a direct appeal to Obama. This is purely a ginned up crises by Obama to try to get Pelosi in and control of both houses so he can ram through more legislation like Obama care, and the economic stimulus plan. The only problem for Obama is that Woodward and others are now calling Obama on his lies! I expect politicians to lie, but not about every little thing from Fast and Furious to Sequester, to scientific reports and Keystone pipe line. Regardless of how much money the government brings in we are still going to run around $ 997 billion in the red. http://www.cbo.gov/publication/43103 This is a spending problem! Remember George Bush’s highest deficit was a measly $413 Billion http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2006/07/11/6210/fourth-largest-deficit/

WHY is it when you take 85 billion out of the economy by taxing the rich there are no job loss? yet when you suggest and take out 85 billion of the govt its loses millions of jobs at least they say that...perhaps only public sector jobs not private jobs are important. ..burn, your criticism should be against CBO they projected this tax revenue...and the stock market is living off the constant pumping of billions by the FED...its not a reflection of a dying economy..

What I truly don't understand is why we don't get more aggressive and FAR LESS apologetic to lying liberals.

I was watching O'Reilly last night and he called Alan Colmes a liar, then before the segment ended, he apologized. You could tell Mr. O'Reilly was truly embarrassed that the conversation went that far. He was even asking guests later in the program if they thought he went to far.

There is only one problem here; Alan Colmes WAS lying. So why is it so terrible to bust someone out for doing EXACTLY what you're claiming they're doing?? Alan Colmes was sticking to liberal talking points saying Obama has proposed many spending cuts and TRIED Soooooo very hard to work with those evil republicans, but they won't work with him. In essense, doing as they normally do, blame republicans for everything; to include global warming, Lincolns assasination, Dennis Rodman's behavior, Jimmy Hoffa's death, Space Shuttle Challenger blowing up, and many more. To democrats, is there literally ANYTHING bad in the world that is NOT the republicans fault? Will they take the slightest bit of blame for ANYTHING?

Ok, back to my point. O'Reilly then asked Colmes to provide one SPECIFIC example of ANY spending cut Obama has proposed. He couldn't provide one, not a single one; so he does the normal liberal thing and REPEATS his earlier statement, saying "Obama has put forth numerous proposals for spending cuts". This is when things go aggressive because O'Reilly rightfully, didn't let Colmes spin.

O'Reilly then tells Colmes he is lying and repeats VERY LOUDLY, for him to give ONE specific proposal Obama has put forward that he will cut. Colmes still couldn't provided a single one; but when O'Reilly continued pounding him, he stated Medicaid and Medicare. So, was this true?

Couple problems with this; first, I've NEVER heard Obama mention cutting medicare or medicaid. Second, these are programs which contain NUMEROUS different programs within them. You can't just say your going to cut medicare, you've got to say which program WITHIN medicare you're going to cut. Saying you're going to cut medicare is like saying you're going to cut the deficit; so how exactly are you going to do it?

Basically, I've got two questions;

When are people going to wake up and realize; saying you're going to do something IS NOT actually doing it? Saying you're going to cut the deficit, isn't an actual plan for cutting the deficit. Saying you will work with Congress, isn't actually working with congress.

Why do people apologize for "Offending" someone, when what they are doing is right? If someone is lying, they should be called a liar.

The answer to the 2nd question is; political correctness. Which needs to be thrown out with the garbage, because thats exactly what it is. We need people today who will "Tell it like it is" without remorse and apologies. Even alleged "Tough guy" O'Reilly couldn't do this. He had to apologize because he felt bad about possibly "Offending" poor little Colmes. Actually, poor little LIAR Colmes is more like it. Political correctness is exactly what is weakening the good people of this Country, removing their spines. Even melting their spines, so to speak. Ever read Revelations where its says the Locust Army stings as a Scorpion stings? A scorpions venom dissolves it's pray into mush, then it consumes the mush. Basically melting the preys spine. Sound familiar?

What O'Reilly did wrong was his yelling, screaming and finger pointing. He should have remained calm and said or called Colmes a liar; given him the opportunity to prove his claim. If Colmes couldn't prove it (Which he couldn't and didn't); then you don't apologize. O'Reilly should have said to Colmes "You're on this program every week. Next week, if you can bring me absolute proof of a specific cut Obama has put forth, I will apologize to you on my own show."

If Colmes couldn't provide this; the term LIAR should have stuck with NO APOLOGIES!! We've got to stop being spineless and gutless when dealing with people. If they're lying, call them a liar!! This Country will never change for the better, until we do so. Until the people of this Country wake up and begin to hold politicians accountable for their words, this will NOT get better. Unfortunately, my personal opinion is that this will NOT get better, only worse. Because people are completely detached from the vast majority of the political realm; uninformed voters as one talk show host likes to call them, and he is VERY accurate in that assessment. Not saying we sit on our butts and do nothing, because we are to STAND and be strong; but I believe the Savior is the only one going to truly make things right again; and no, I'm not talking about Obama.

What some thirty year high for taxes of the wealthy and this year predicted to bring record revenues with 2.6 trillion in taxes (although spending a trillion more than that) and all the Dems can do is say "we don't have a spending problem we need to tax the wealthy more". Just pathetic. Well more pathetic the blind who choose to believe those lies.
This year will be record taxes because the wealthy haven't figured a way around these "new" taxes-however watch in the next few years revenues drop. This has been the pattern.

Let's cut to the chase. What do liberals want? If we give you everything you want, what is it? Much higher taxes on the upper half and more federal entitlement programs? Just where would you stop with the wealth redistribution? Or would you not stop until all wealth is shared equally? Should corporations be nationalized? What are your ultimate goals?

i predict the cbo is wrong..you take 85 billion out of the economy and we have less spending that is discretionary spending where job growth comes from. less tax revenue from the middle class.......there will be less people employed ..the rich will sit on there money and the economy will continue to die...

Did the editors forget about 2 wars, the 2008 crash, and that the Payroll Tax change was the end of a temporary reduction? Also, why don't they mention that the figures on income just had to revised and show that during the recovery from 2009-2011, the top 1% received 121% of the income growth (the income of the bottom 99% went down, hence the number over 100%).

Sadly, the sequester may be the only way for the Tea Party people, who mean well but are, I am sorry to say, thoughtless and poorly informed, to realize that you can't have a functioning industrial democracy without a strong central government. After things get bad enough--after they have been proven wrong time and again, as will surely be the case, the American people will finally reject this white wing nonsense. In the meantime, we will all hope for the best. Have a great day.

One thing Obama, and many politicians for that matter, don't seem to be concerned about is that lying and stealing are clearly two of the Ten Commandments. They are NOT above God's laws, and one day will have to answer for their parts in the attempted destruction of our society for personal gain.

There are always multiple ways to present the data. It is disingenuous to note that revenues will be at record levels, without noting any context. The revenues will still be below historical averages with respect to either GDP or CPI (inflation) corrected dollars.http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/FYFRGDA188S

So when the editorial warns you to be aware of the scare, the real scare is that historically speaking, revenues this year will be greater than last, but will still lag historical post-WWII averages. The data is easily accessible, but in a world in which few people will bother to actually go access the data, spreading misinformation is easier. The good news is that revenues are actually getting close to historical levels, and it won't take much more correction to reach them. The bad news is spending does need to decrease, and that Medicare and Defense are the main reasons why.

this situation is it. He is only campaigning and not governing. He was offered the opportunity to move the cuts around where they would have the least impact and he said he would veto any such measure. You see, he does not want his finger prints on anything that can bring him blame. That is the pattern of his who involvement in politics ever since he was in the state legislature in IL and is confirmed by his voting "present" so often. A true leader would do everything he could to prevent pain to the people but he is going in the opposite direction and trying to inflict pain on the people in order to have politically gain. His objective is to win back the House for the democrats so he can have full control of all legislation in his last two years. Everything he does is right out of Saul Alinsky's playbook. If you do not believe it, read his "Rules for Radicals."
As to spending cuts, all that Obama has proposed are AFTER he leaves the white house...none on his watch. How much do you think the future president and congresses are going to cowtow to his proposals.
Just remember, he believes America needs to be changed so that it is a European socialist model and we should no longer be the number one power economically or militarily. This man is a leftist on a mission and hopefully the media is waking up to the fact that he wants to rule not govern.

rheteor- as a person who believes in a balanced budget so i am ill-informed..the world is really upside down now--where 1.3 trillion deficits are ok and balanced budgets are worrisome...we dont believe there should NOT be a central govt...its just the one we got is too intrusive, bloated, full of waste, fraud and duplication that is wasting hundreds of billions a year. incapable of minor cuts without going ballastic.. and people like you want it bigger**WHY?????? examples.. there is no reason for a dept of energy,it was to get us off foreign oil, dept of education we spend billion and poor results...founders knew state govt could do a better job..rheteor ** please name one federal program that is run efficiently.

Rehtor- One of the founders of Home Depot and the founder of Subway both say they could not start the businesses they did today due to government regulation. Yes we need regulations but we are drownding in them. I bought a suite case about two years go and it had 5 tags on it detailing how it met variius government regulations and how the material used in the manufature of the suite cases met various regulations. Now that was for ONE suite case! Look at Obama's legal action against Gibson Guitar and tell the government isn't out of control. Look at the EPA dealing with the family in Oragon that wanted to build the house by the lake (that one went all the way to the Supreme Court)!

And these record tax revenue projections AFTER January's tax hikes are a bit peculiar, wouldn't you say?

I think you're trying to mislead us, Burn. The story was in yesterday's Chronicle print edition and it was an Associated Press story. The story was not about tax revenue projections, but instead was analyzing actual past tax revenue trends.

rheteor.the world now is upside down ..people who want balanced budgets are deemed racist and dangerous, while 1.3 trillion dollar deficits are ok..its not that a central govt is wrong..its just doesnt work in micro-management. we now have an intrusive, bloated federal govt that is lierally wasting hundreds of billions a year in waste fraud and duplication of programs..there is no accounting where OUR dollars are going..WHY would you WANT to give this govt more??? tell me, what program is run well by the FEDS??? WHY SHOULD WE GIVE THEM ONE PENNEY MORE?? this is nonsense yet we as so called tea party are villified for common sense.

...is why we don't get more aggressive and FAR LESS apologetic to lying liberals."

It's because political correctness has become a way of life. Left-wing teachers drum it into the heads of our children that above all else, they must never say anything "offensive" to someone....anyone....else. The mainstream media reinforces that notion. Politicians write laws that demand it. Only if you are deemed to be politically correct are you allowed to say things to, or about, others that they can't say themselves. It's why only certain people can use the "N" word, or the "Q" word, or the "C" word and all others not.

People are beginning to notice. Dr. Benjamin Carson has done a good job addressing the issue and the importance of abandoning political correctness if we are ever to solve our societal ills.

"Sadly, the sequester may be the only way for the Tea Party people, who mean well but are, I am sorry to say, thoughtless and poorly informed, to realize that you can't have a functioning industrial democracy without a strong central government."

Rhetor. Please provide evidence that Tea Party people are thoughtless and poorly informed. And keep in mind that if you give anecdotal stories of one or two people, the same rationalization can be used to show that certain races are "criminals and thugs." It just ain't true. That being said. I challenge you to back up your accusation.

I think burn misunderstood the figures. 75 percent of Americans pay more in payroll taxes than in income taxes. About 22 percent of those who don't pay income tax are elderly, about 17 percent are students, disabled, or unemployed (the recession skewed the numbers due to high unemployment), the rest are the working poor who the personal and dependent deductions are greater than their tax burden.

Did you see O'Reilly last night? WOW!! He let the left wing Colmes have it for his support of an administration that is leading this country toward bankruptcy..he did apologize but he meant every word.

OOPS..sorry, myfather. I came on late and failed to read before I wrote....

Most so-called fixed income seniors I know still pay some taxes on their Social Security income. I know I do.

If the libs are to be believed, there are NO deadbeats in this country. Not a single one. Just the filthy rich who, by blind luck and no effort or risk or sacrifice, have "won life's lottery". And then we have the poor hard-working downtrodden, who have been cheated out of their legacy.